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Skippings Fine Arts

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The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

1920 - 1940

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

Marcelle Routier (1915 - 2001) was a true Renaissance woman - and a modern one to boot. Born in Paris, she studied art in the 1930s, and according to Beaux-Arts magazine, became secretary of the Free Academy of Painting of Nice by 1935. A silver medal was awarded to her in the same year by the Lorraine Society of Fine Arts for her participation in an exhibition at Saint-Dié.

To to earn a living, worked as a journalist for the "Journal de la Femme" from 1936. After the war - during which Marcelle fought in the Resistance - she would work as an editor for Paris Match, Marie Claire and other publications - while at the same time being a literary advisor for Opéra Mundi and writing novels and plays!

Marcelle co-wrote the book "Playing for Time" about the Musicians at Auschwitz with Fania Fenelon, a survivor pianist and soprano in the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen, which was made into a Hollywood film.

She also worked with photographer Robert Doisneau and poet Jacques Prevert on the book "Saint Germain des Près".

Here, we have Marcelle Routier at her most exuberant with a ballet composition typical of the Art Deco period, which was of course also the period of Serge Lifar's "Ballets Russes".

I discovered a photograph of Lifar dancing with Tamara Toumanova in 1939 which I am showing it with this listing for reference - you will just how well Marcelle Routier seizes the spirit of the Ballet.

Our painting, dating from 1937, also corresponds to the period when Marcelle was preparing a major exhibition at the mythical Galerie de Paris, on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

The oil on canvas is signed at the lower right and measures 61 x 73 cm. Presented in its simple original frame, the overall size is 66 x 79 cm.

My mini biography of the artist was compiled with the help of Anne Mathieu's scholarly article: “Housewives and activists. Women in global action”, “Women in review”, autumn 2020.

Physical Dimensions

Height

61cm (24.02")

Width

73cm (28.74")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1930s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA919853

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

Marcelle Routier (1915 - 2001) was a true Renaissance woman - and a modern one to boot.

“

Born in Paris, she studied art in the 1930s, and according to Beaux-Arts magazine, became secretary of the Free Academy of Painting of Nice by 1935.

Skippings Fine Arts

A silver medal was awarded to her in the same year by the Lorraine Society of Fine Arts for her participation in an exhibition at Saint-Dié.

fig 1. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist oil on canvas — fig 1. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

To to earn a living, worked as a journalist for the "Journal de la Femme" from 1936. After the war - during which Marcelle fought in the Resistance - she would work as an editor for Paris Match, Marie Claire and other publications - while at the same time being a literary advisor for Opéra Mundi and writing novels and plays!

fig 2. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist oil on canvas — fig 2. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

Marcelle co-wrote the book "Playing for Time" about the Musicians at Auschwitz with Fania Fenelon, a survivor pianist and soprano in the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen, which was made into a Hollywood film.

fig 3. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist oil on canvas — fig 3. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

She also worked with photographer Robert Doisneau and poet Jacques Prevert on the book "Saint Germain des Près".

Here, we have Marcelle Routier at her most exuberant with a ballet composition typical of the Art Deco period, which was of course also the period of Serge Lifar's "Ballets Russes".

fig 4. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist oil on canvas — fig 4. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

I discovered a photograph of Lifar dancing with Tamara Toumanova in 1939 which I am showing it with this listing for reference - you will just how well Marcelle Routier seizes the spirit of the Ballet.

fig 5. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist oil on canvas — fig 5. The Dance Performance, Ballets Russes, 1937 - Art Deco Ballet Scene by French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

Our painting, dating from 1937, also corresponds to the period when Marcelle was preparing a major exhibition at the mythical Galerie de Paris, on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

The oil on canvas is signed at the lower right and measures 61 x 73 cm. Presented in its simple original frame, the overall size is 66 x 79 cm.

My mini biography of the artist was compiled with the help of Anne Mathieu's scholarly article: “Housewives and activists. Women in global action”, “Women in review”, autumn 2020.